[wideawake]

to stay a sovereign nation the only response was war

If Japan had to pay more for oil they would cease to be a sovereign nation?

Who was about to conquer Japan in 1941, exactly?

[prof.h.mandingo]

You may want to read post 28 and 30 for some information. Not only did we cut of their oil we cut scrap steel etc. As for your smartazz remark you are so correct no one was trying to invade Japan at that time. Also Hitler wanted to invade for many reason besides economic ones. Hitler was driven by ideology. In fact he did not want to fight Britain. Trying to equate the aims of Japan and Germany is a losing proposition.
FDR was advised AGAINST moving the fleet to Pearl by his military advisers. He overruled them to try to impress the Japs. Bad move on his part. Pearl was a trap and his military tried to tell him. You also totally misread Japanese psychology of the period.